Chicago.

Last Saturday I went to Chicago with my German class.

I love the beeeean! I took some better pictures with my film SLR.

We ate wiener schnitzel at the German market!

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My hawt Chicago-shopping outfit.

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It started to rain like nobody's business. Beautiful!

The market.

Angel. :3

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I ended up having a really great time. Not that I thought I wouldn't. I just love the city soo much. The fact that it started pouring rain was a big plus, minus the fact that it was freezing. And when I came home the boyfriend came over, so... Yeah!

g h o s t i e

Chriskindl Markt!

Guess where my German class is going next week?
Chicago.
Guess why we're going to Chicago?
Chriskindl Markt.
W00!

I'm really excited for this. I love Chicago, I'm going with some good friends, it's an authentic German Christmas market, and I can get Christmas prezzies! (Ugh, I need to find more money.)
Ich liebe Deutsch! ...Well, I really don't like the class anymore (*laugh* It's because of the pace mostly. My best friend is taking German IIA as an independant study, and she loves being able to work at her own pace). But I can still speak German, and I'm extremely proud of the fact! And I really really really can't wait to go to Chicago...! Sorry! I'm excited!
I'll take pictures! This will be my second time going to Chicago.

I just found this really cool story: [link]. Basically a group of teenagers climbed to the top of an abandoned skyscraper in Chicago and sat on the ledge. The pictures are breathtaking. This is something I'd really like to do now (soo badly).
This entire blog is really fascinating, actually. I recommend checking it out.

So excited for the city. :)
g h o s t i e

 

ohlala ☆彡

We're not cool, we are free, and we're running with blood on our knees.

I guess I've made a habit of posting once a week now? x.x
Guess it's good to make a post while I'm waiting for that nightly phone call. Have nothing else to do.

Today I went on an adventure! I woke up this morning with the feeling in my blood! ...Then I had to go run a bunch of errands with my mom until 3:30. But I did get to go on that adventure when I arrived back home.
Contacted Plushie, my good adventure buddy, and after I picked up my favourite canned iced tea, headed over to his home. Where he showed me a video game he was playing. XD Which was great, now I really want to play that game! It's called Rune Factory. Giiiimeee! *laugh*
Then we headed off on the railroad tracks. This is something I've been wanting to do for months, find an old construction site my friend (erm, Ian, actually) told me about. And guess what? We found it. >:] We had to walk over a mile, I'd say. It was really long, and reaaally hot. We actually found a stream on our way down the tracks, it was heavenly! The rocky bottom hurt our bare feet, but the water was so cool. It was amazing.
And, yes, we almost did get caught while we were hunting around in the construction site. It was private property. We got there, and it went kind of like this:

Me: "...Does that path look like it was freshly cut?"
P: "Uh, yes, it does. And it looks like that truck was recently parked there."
Me: "Oh, okay." *keeps walking in*

We were already headed back to the railroad tracks when a truck pulled around to where we were. There were a lot of trees, and it wasn't headed quite in our direction, so I'm pretty sure it didn't see us. It was so freaking scary. We practically dived into the weeds, and ran, then crouched down in the weeds when we thought the truck was going to drive by us. I hated that part, I just wanted to runrunrun off that property, in case they parked the truck right by us or something, but when we didn't see anything after waiting for a moment, I jumped back up and did the running I desperately needed to do. We did eventually make it out safely, without getting caught. But man, I can't express how scared I was in the moment. Even though I knew we wouldn't get caught.
Adrenaline rush, anyone?

g h o s t i e

Animus?!

Yesterday I went to an anime convention.

Wow, yeah, I know! I actually went to an anime convention. XD

I just had a great time hanging out with two of my best friends, a kind-of friend (Donald's best friend, k? xD), and my boyfriend (Ian). Great time for bonding... Especially when we got lost. (laugh) That was both nerve-wracking and exciting.

At first we thought we might not be able to go. Chelsie and I were in costume (the only two in our group cosplaying. She was Sakura Haruno, and I was Hinata Hyuga, both Naruto characters) taking pictures of each other while we waited for our ride.

In the end, she never did choose a Sakura-pose for in case people asked for her picture.

Aaaand I just look plain evil here. My apologies! Pretty sure I lifted my head up more when people asked for my picture at the con... Which they did, and it made me so happy! (More about that later.)

We both made a kunai (each) out of paper, a large stick, and electrical tape. XD

Hinata needs to keep her mouth closed for pictures. >.>;

"I'm going to see if I can hit my kunai on the backboard!" (She did, by the way.)

This was right after we got the phone call from Donald, I believe. He told us that Jason (our driver) wasn't back yet, and wasn't answering his phone. He said that we probably wouldn't end up going to the convention.
I made a frantic call to Ian, in hopes that he would have any ideas for alternative rides. He didn't. Plushie talked to his mom, but she didn't either.
Fortunately, I got an insant message from Donald about 10 minutes later, saying that Jason was going to be over very soon to pick us up. (I could have danced in the streets! I'd been waiting for this convention for over six months!

Jason picked us up, and with our GPS and pile of MapQuest maps, we set off!

....And got VERY lost.

"WHY ARE THERE NO MICHIGAN MAPS?!"
(This caption was edited. What was actually said is not appropriate anyone under 15. XD)

The GPS proved to be HORRIBLE. It shut off right when we needed it, turned back on when we finally figured out where to go without its help, talking in this noncomprehensible duck voice (from Tom and Jerry, apparently). ...The voice was actually pretty funny... At first.
When we first started going:
GPS: (duck voice) "Turn right!"
Donald: "W-why is the GPS talking like Donald Duck?!"
Jason: "I... Don't know... Why did it tell us to turn right?"
Ian: "You have to turn LEFT!"
GPS: (says something that no one could possibly understand)
Donald: "What?!"
Me: "I don't like this... D:"

That thing was just screwed up.

We stopped in an empty lot to get our bearings. On the outskirts of the city.

We got lost because of the construction on the interstate. We got off the freeway and promptly became lost. XD

We were going farther and farther into the 'bad' part of town, and we were beginning to get a little nervous. Just a little. Then we stopped at a gas station to ask for directions and see if they sold maps. Only Ian and Jason went in, and they came back looking really freaked out. Not so much Jason, he was just nervous (the person at the cash register was behing bullet-proof glass), but Ian was getting really bad feelings, so we got the heck out of there.

Eventually, after a, what? Two hour car ride? We got to where we were going. (The car ride was only supposed to be an hour.) We drove to the giant sign that said "GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY," and of course, everyone was making comments like, "Well, I don't see where we're supposed to be." "Yep, this is DEFINITELY not the place!" "Better turn the car around, Jason, and go home." (GVSU was, in fact, where the convention was being held. *laugh*)

We deifnitely knew that we were where we were supposed to be when we drove down the campus road a ways and saw a few cosplayers slowly turn into large groups of cosplayers as we drove. We parked, walked halfway to the building, my shoe gave out so I wrapped the medical tape we used for the Sakura costume around it, and continued on our way.

Don bought this awesome neko-hat, which I ended up wearing on the way home. XD (Even though I bought my own adorable kitsune (fox) hat. He just said, "I can't wear two hats, who wants this one for the ride?!" and I grabbed it.)

Don photobombing Jason's picture.
You can see the supersuper expensive Prinny he bought in his hand over there, to the right.

Ian. xD He was smiling, and as soon as I pointed my camera towards him, he made this face. (Awww!)

For the first hour and a half or so, I thought I'd be able to go through the entire day without anyone taking pictures. XD (I know that people like to take pictures of cosplayers, so I'd prepared myself, but I mostly hoped that no one would. *laugh* It's just embarresing.) I was standing with my friends, waiting for Ian to finish looking through some buttons in the Artist Alley, when a girl who was standing next to me looked at me. I looked back at her, we both smiled, and I think we may have said "hi," but I don't really remember. I looked away for a second, shy, then looked back. She then opened her arms for a hug, so I hugged her. It made me so happy!!! She was so cute! I wish I could find a way to contact her, it would be awesome if I could talk to her online or something.

Then there was another instance, about half an hour later, where two fangirls ran up to me, shouting "Hinata!!!" They cooed and awwed and hugged me and asked for my picture. (Three pictures, they had a guy with them.) Then they petted me and kept saying "cute!" and "kawaii!" and then ran away. *laughs nervously* That would have been SO embarressing if it were just me, but of course that would never happen, they were cooing at Hinata, and it really made my day that they liked my costume. I think it helped that my face was bright red during that whole ordeal. *laughs* It took me 10 minutes calm down after that. o.o;

People took Chelsie's picture, too, though she told me that she got some dirty looks. XD Apparently one person said, "Hinata! ....Sakura." And gave her a dirty look. I felt bad for her! I guess people don't like Sakura too much. (Note to self: moe character always get good reactions!)

Seriously, though, how could anyone glare at her?! She looks so great in her costume! (Which was entirely hand-made, by the way. Except for the headband. And the change purse, of course, she bought that at the convention.)

This is what made me wish I took more pictures of other cosplayers. Donald saw this girl, and was like, "Yeah, I'm going to get my picture with her." This costume is just epic.

Lessee... I saw Demyx... Kyouya... Hunny... Some girls dressed as Brigade members... And Vincent Valentine. *nodnod* I wanted to take a picture of Demyx sooo badly, but he was with some friends. :( It would have been rude to bother him.

Next year I am going to cosplay Kino from Kino no Tabi! Well, maybe. I might want to go with a more well-known character. If I can save up the money for the jacket, I want to cosplay Xion!

Even the ride home was enjoyable! We managed to find our way back easily (stopped at a Speedway that actually sold maps, but that didn't matter because all we had to do, it turns out, was take the freeway, and follow their detours).

About 15 minutes into the car ride, I found that I was extremely sleepy, and ended up spending half the ride laying on Ian's chest, drifting back and forth between conciousness and so-close-to-sleep. A few times I wondered if he was uncomfortable, but that was quickly overcome by a yawn that blocked out all my thoughts. xD He didn't mind, though. That's why I like him. :3

We talked about going to the mall (it was only 6:30 at the time), but Chelsie had to get home, and Ian wanted to go home. So another time, my friends!

I love those guys. (cheese, cheese, I know. *shuts up*)

"Next person we drive by is getting hit in the head!!!"

You can look at more photos from the convention (taken by the many different people that attended) HERE!

g h o s t i e

Pennsylvania.

Came back from my Pennsylvania vacation yesterday!

We did SO. MUCH.
Angel and I discovered, soon into the vacation, that something interesting happened every single day of the vacation.
So rather than going into a play-by-play of what we did each day, I'll write a quick story about each interesting thing that happened, one for each day.

Day One: Arrival (Saturday)
After the 8-hour car ride, we were so happy to be able to unpack and laze around our rented yurt.
Angel and I soon discovered that the neighbours next door had two sons, one of which looked about a year younger than us, and the second who turned out to be a sophomore in college.
The older son started playing his guitar on his porch around 9 that night. Ange and I went out to our porch and lay on the picnic table, staring at the stars as we listened. Then we got up and walked up and down the road, still listening, chatting quietly. We even tried to catch some lightning bugs! It was almost perfect.

Day Two: Wal-Mart (Sunday)
Okay, this one isn't the most interesting. I'll keep it short. Pretty much, we went to Wal-Mart, and Angel and I picked up hair dye. Then we dyed our hair. XD Exciting, I know. But now my hair is a light golden brown! :D

Day Three: The Bird (Monday)
We were in the bathroom, brushing our teeth, when Angel noticed the bird that was flying against the window (it was a high window). I was all for leaving it alone and getting ready for the day, but she kept looking at it, and before I knew it, we were standing on the benches in the shower, leaning across to the window, trying to catch the bird. Her enthusiasm caught on quickly, and now I feel really bad for not caring for the bird in the first place (nervous laugh). I do think the neighbours across the street thought we were crazy! We ran into the public bathroom, then a few minutes later, ran back out. We returned, still running, with a pillow case. About 3 minutes after that, I dashed out of the bathrooms once again, and returned with a chair. XDD I know that they were extremely curious because I could see them watching us from their porch, and the woman that was staying there came into the bathroom to see what the heck we were up to. XD
And yes, we did eventually manage to trap the poor bird in the pillow case and set him free!

Day Four: ...Yes, Day Four... (Tuesday)
This is where my journal begins to fail me. xD
We went to the Koffman house, Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, that day! Here, I will grace you with a photograph of the house, taken by moi.
Yup... Lovely picture there... Beautiful house. I swear there was something else we did that day, but I just can't remember!!!
...Oh.
I remember.
There was a natural water slide. Really cool, but I'm not putting up anymore pictures. It's where the rocks were eroded after thousands of years of the river flowing over them, creating the best place to slide down. It's actually really rough, though. I kept getting bashed against rocks. =.= So on my second time down, Angel and I got out after the second part. (There are two parts, after the first you have to scoot your butt down a bit to get to the second.) We sat there for a moment before we realized that we were on the other side of the powerful, rushing water. Somehow, Angel made it across, but then she slipped. She started falling down the rushing stream, yelling for my help. I held out my hand and screamed, "GRAB MY HAND!!!" I'm sure we looked so ridiculous to any onlookers, but to the both of us, it was incredibly dramatic. I could hear the pounding music in my head and everything!
I was able to pull Angel up, buuuut... I slipped down. She reached for my hand, and I stretched my arm out to take it, but no! The river had other plans. I screamed for her, but I felt myself slipping, slowly but surely, and I soon found myself amongst the rushing water once again, screaming "NOOO!!!" (and some swear words) at the top of my lungs, before I was pulled under the hungry hydraulics, and sucked to the end of the very painful natural water slide!!!

Day Five: Waterfall (Wednesday)
Our last full day!
We had nothing planned for this day.
Ange and I wanted to go rock-hopping (there are some really big glacier rocks in the river there!). Instead... We found this beautiful hidden-away rock beach! There was a small waterfall that Angel and I sat on (pictures!), rocks to climb on, rapids about 200 metres away, and the best sun-bathing rocks. =D Words cannot explain it.

Okay, so nothing out of the ordinary happened on Day Six, Departure Day. Except for the fact that we, y'know, departed. We talked to guitar-guy (whose name is Calvin), but we never got any contact information, so I fear we will never speak to him again. A shame, he was a very interesting character.

I feel like I should have a better conclusion, but I'm frekking tired. G'night, my dear readers! And thanks for sticking with me throughout that long, endearing post! I'll have something new up by tomorrow, I hope.

g h o s t i e

PS. I didn't use 'endearing' correctly, did I? Oh, dear, now I've drawn your attention to that fact, when you may have never noticed it in the first place. I'm just too tired. Why am I even bothering with words? *falls asleep on keyboard*

Today I went to the orthodontist.

Good news and bad news! They told me that I'll get my braces off in two appointments.

I was like, "Yays!"

Then they were all, "Oh, but your next appointment isn't until August! Ahahahaha have a great summer!"

And I was all, "Screeeew youuu" (In my head. That was actually my chant when they told me that I wouldn't be getting them off at my next appointment.)

RAWR. D:

Yesterday, I saw... Phantom!

Phantom of the Opera. It was SO GOOD.

Best musical I have ever seen. And live!

My favourite scene was when... The first time he met her. I'm not saying more than that.

If you get a chance to see it, SEE IT.

It was worth the price of tickets.

Before-hand my mother and I went to my favourite sushi/Japanese restaurant. I forgot the name of the sushi I had, but it was very good! My mom had some cucumber sushi and some sort of salmon.

Then after the play my mother and I stared out at the university campus (where Phantom was held) on the roof of the parking garage.

And we drove RIGHT by my favourite bubble tea place, so my mother was nice and let me get one. I got a taro milk tea with mango stars, and man, it was delicious. It took me right back to last summer, I think that's really what made it so wonderful. And then on the drive back the sky was gorgeous, the clouds, the cars on the highway... When I got home I showered then called this really amazing guy I know... Aka Ian, my boyfriend. <3

And we talked. And I went to bed incredibly happy.

I liked yesterday.

g h o s t i e

Bah-nah-nah.

I took up Shae's challenge. BOREDOM WILL NOT CONTROL ME!!!

Basically: Find as many uses for a banana as possible.

Banana as a book weight.

Banana as a bookMARK. (Try carrying THAT one around in your bag!)

Banana as a boat.

(A'ight, I cheated on this one a bit. The banana began breaking in half, so I held it up so it wouldn't sink. xD)

Banana as a tricked-out car.
"Hang on, Fernando! This isn't over yet!"

Then the armless dino (notably bigger than the previous one) smashed the car and ate the lego man's head off.
._.
I like toys.

g h o s t i e

PS. Oh! I almost forgot. Here's one I took last winter. ;)
Shae already did this, but... BANANA AS A PHONE!

Ringringringring....

What's Another Word for Desperate?

Best way to end Spring Break.

I woke up at 6:30 this morning, as always, despite it being a Sunday. Now, I know you're probably thinking I'm insane, but you'd be doing the exact same thing if you were in my position. ;)

[Wow, I suck. Started this on Sunday, finishing it on Tuesday. >.<]

I arrived at the hill before Shae, but after Plushie (he actually came!). We lay on the hill for a bit, and Shae joined us, but we became a bit bored. (There was a little sunrise! Yay!) So we traveled next door, to the logging company. There Shae and I became men. (Plushie, however, did not. He refused to walk in the puddle.) We also climbed around on top of the logs (I nearly killed myself! xD!) and giant piles of dirt. Then we noticed the parked train and we went over to inspect it.
...I feel like I should not write about this here. XD
Oh well. We climbed on top of the trains! I think P went up first, then Shae, then somehow they convinced me to do the same. I'm glad I did, it was beautiful up there. Such a view! After walking around on that car, I found myself hopping from car to car behind Shae and Plushie. O.o (It did take about ten minutes of "Come on, Courtney! I know you can do it!" But whoo caaares...)

And we saved a puppy!
We were headed back to go home when we heard this loud screeching, screaming sound. We thought a dog was being abused, seriously. Turns out this guy put a puppy he was pet-sitting on his porch (surrounded by fencing), and the dog was throwing a fit. It was raining, I can't believe he'd put someone else's dog out there! When he saw us he tried climbing through the bars of the porch rail. =.= He did actually get out, and P put him back (Shae had to distract the big dog so it wouldn't eat us xD). Then he tried to climb out again, but didn't get so lucky that time. He became stuck, and we had to go knock on the guy's door to let him know. (The dog did eventually wiggle his way out, though.)
Proof:



Then after church (which I nearly missed) we met up again. When Plush and I were headed over on our bikes to meet Shae, I started screwing around and ended up wiping my bike out, and on the shoulder of the road. I thought I was completely fine until we got to his house (we went back for some money), where I realized I had blood streaming down my leg. Long story short, the road took out his big chunk of my knee when I fell. >.< It was reaaaally gross.... I couldn't even look at it straight when I first realized it was there. But hey, I don't have to describe it to you-- you can see for yourself! XDD


YEAH, HUGE IMAGE!
...Because I just like grossing people out with it.

When I came home I changed the bandage. Before I put a new one on, I made sure to go find my mom to show her.
Mom: "Ew, disgusting! Why would you SHOW me that?!" *slams door on my face*
XDD
She thinks I might need stitches, though. :/ I mean, it looks a whooole lot less bloody than in that picture, but it's still pretty deep, and the center still looks gorey. So she's gonna call the doctor today.

Hmm... I still have more to write about, so I'm gonna do what Shae does and make a new post! Sorry :DD

g h o s t i e